Sunday, June 7, 2009

World Music Picnic

My neighborhood park — Overton Park in Midtown — boasts an adorable outdoor concert venue that hosts free live shows four nights a week in the spring and fall. The Shell stage has a long Memphis history (it's actually the first stage Elvis ever played on!), and it was recently re-vamped and re-named the Levitt Shell:

Tonight, a cute world music group called Chic Gamine performed, and though we didn't know anything about the band, Stephanie (of the Poopie Bitch blog) and I saw the event as the perfect opportunity to pack a picnic. Steph brought some homemade apple-sage steamed vegan sausages with homemade buns and some tasty macaroni slaw. I provided boozy beer beans and some marinated summer tomato salad:

And of course, Steph brought one of her uber-delicious vegan cakes (this lady can bake the hell out of some cakes). Tonight's selection was a summer-y Raspberry Lime Cake with a Lime Glaze:

Here's a blogger behind-the-scenes shot of Steph taking a picture for her blog:

And here we are — me, Barbara, Vaughan, and Steph's husband Richard (a.k.a. The Brit) — before stuffing ourselves silly:

The band — Chic Gamine — turned out to be pretty awesome. It's made of up four girls and one dude from Canada, and they play a mix of American soul and gospel blended with Brazilian forro and even 1950s doo-wop. Kinda crazy, but lots of fun. Here's the band in action (check out that one chick wearing the washboard instrument!):

Anyway, there's a free concert every Thursday through Sunday at the Levitt Shell through June, so I'm sure we'll be picnicking there again very soon.

Ha! I love the picture the blogger took of the other blogger taking a picture of food to go on her blog. Whew! That was a handful! Looks like you guys had a great time! I secretly love Elvis..... and he PLAYED there?!?!? I'm jealous!-A

– so cool on hanging out at the new venue and having a picnic! wahooooooo! boozy beer beans = mmmmmmm! your summer tomato salad rocks, too! Steph’s cake looks most excellent! man, you guys had some great eatz and it looks like everyone had such a fantastical time! free concerts, good music, and picnics all sound like a combination of awesome! w00t!

Hey Bianca. My name is Katrina---I used to go to school with you. I have been lurking your page for over a year now and have even began to lurk some of the other posts linked to your page. I have to say that looking at and reading your posts really make me consider making the transition of becoming vegan. You make it look so easy---which I don't think it would be easy for me, though. Especially since my husband wouldn't want to make the same transition lol. Just wanted to say keep up the good work and to let you know that you are truly inspirational.

My name is Bianca ...

About Me

I'm an 11-year vegan, 21-year vegetarian from the Mid-South, not too far from the muddy banks of the Mississippi River. And that means cornbread, butter beans, and collard greens.
These days, I live in Memphis. Check out my cookbook — Cookin' Crunk. It's filled with yummilicious veganized soul food and country classics.